Rotary printing device



July 19, 1960 L J. LAPolNTE ETAI- ROTARY PRINTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9,1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l muur-30o 34 CELIA MMHM 42 7 RNEYS July 19, 1960 LJ LAPOINTE ETAI- 2,945,576

komm PRINTING DEVICE:

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept 9, 1958 m o m Y N o H T N A LOUIS CETRANUnite ROTARY PRINTING DEVICE Fixed sept. 9, 195s, ser. No. 159,974

12 claims. (ci. 1971z) This invention relates to a rotary type printingdevice and more particularly relates to a novel typing or printingdevice that employs a rotary type printing head which is succcessivelyindexed to selective printing positions in an efi'icient andpredetermined timed relation to the operation of the other elements ofthe device.

In many conventional rotary type printing devices the printing head isyieldably driven by a shaft which is continuously rotated at asubstantially constant speed. Here there is little, if any, possibilityof controllably varying the acceleration and deceleration of saidprinting head during each of its intermittent cycles of rotation.Furthermore the sequential timing of operation of the various parts ofthese devices is not eiciently controlled to the extent necessary toinsure the attaining of the maximum potential overall speed of operationof the apparatus.

States Patent O One object of the instant invention is to provide a Yrotary type printing device which has a novel construction and animproved means for more etliciently synchronizing the operation of thevarious parts thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple rotarytype printing device having aV printing head which is frictionallydriven by a shaft that partakes of a predetermined intermittent cyclicmovement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel printing devicehaving a cylindrical printing head which is yieldably driven by acyclically operated drive means which is intermittently rotated.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a very compactinexpensive rotary type printing device having a printing head which isfrictionally driven by a shaft Whose rotational speed varies during eachVintermittent cycle of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary type printingdevice having a printing head which is driven at predetermined varyingspeeds during each cyclic 360 degrees of rotation; said cyclic rotationstarting and ending with a zero speed which is created independently ofthe operation of any stop means that positively terminate each cyclicmovement of the printing head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved yieldablydriven rotary type printing head which cooperates with a print hammerthat is operated after completion of an entire cycle of the rotation ofthe main shaftV driving said head.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved rotarytype printing device having a pair of yieldable drive means whichactuate a rotary typehead i' and which are serially connected by agearing means that drive said head at predetermined varying speeds.

`Otherobjects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood byreference to the following j support member 30.

detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout the ligures thereof and wherein: Y

Fg..1 is a front elevational view in partial diametral l 2,945,576Patented July 19, 19Go ICC section showing the constructional nature andthe general drive means for the rotary printing device constituting theinstant invention. j

Fig; 2 is an exploded perspective view of the principal parts of theinstantrotary printing device.

Fig. 3 is a diametral sectional view of the instant printing device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the instant device taken in partialthree level section.

Fig. 5 defines the circuit diagram for the instant apparatus.

Fig. 6 illustrates a typical timing diagram for the operation of thevarious solenoids and certain other parts of the instant apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the constructionand operation of a cam and an associated hammer control switch.

Referring to Figs. 1 Vand 2 the instant rotary printing device 10 isdriven by the main shaft 11 that is operated by a gear train 12comprising three gears 13, 14 and 15 having equal pitch diameters andwhich are respectively interconnected as are gears d, l and h of U.S.Patent 1,052,542. Gear 13 is rotatably secured to the main shaft 11while gear 15 is eccentrically xed to the output shaft 16 of aconventional friction type slip clutch 17. The input shaft 18 of theclutch is driven by a constantly running motor 19 through any suitablemeans such as a pulley-belt arrangement 20. When the slip'clutch 17 ispermitted to drive gear train 12 the main shaft 11 will be yieldablydriven through successive 360 degree cycles of rotation therebyoperating the printing device 10 as will be further described below. Theoperational nature of gear train 12 is such that during each cycle ofoperation of the instant device, shafts 11 and 16 will each make onerevolution but the rotational movement of shaft 11 will start with andend before that of shaft 16. `rl`he length of the time overlap of themovement of shaft 16 with respect to shaft 11 may be adjusted as desiredby varying the degree of eccentricity of gear 15 with respect to shaft16.

A detailed description of the construction of the rotary printingdevicer10 will Vbe made with reference to Figs. 2-4. As is bestillustrated in Fig. 2 said device comprises a main tubular supportmember 30 the upper end of which is provided with a flange 31 having aplurality of circumferentiallyspaced and radially disposed slots 32formed therein. Rotatably mounted in the support member 30 is aAcylindrical printing head 33 having a plurality of type 34 lixed to orformed in the periphery thereof. The printing head 33 is provided with adepending radially disposed stop 35 and a tubular hub portion 36 whichextends into the upper end of the tubular support member 30. Radial,

42 which is operatively disposed between bearingV 38 and' a shoulder 43formed on shaft 11.. A tubular insert 49, Fig. 3, is press fitted intothe lower end of the central aperture Si), Fig. 2, of the main tubularsnpport'niember 30 and is provided with a bearing 51 which radiallysupports and positions shaft 11. The bearing 51`axially abuts bearing`37 and thereby maintains the printing head'33in fixed axially spacedrelation with respect to the tubular Supported ont-he member 30 arersixcoaxially disposed and axially spaced permutation membersfor discs 60,61, 62, 63, -64 and `65, Fig. 2,- each of which is provided with anoutwardly extending radial arm 66. Said permutation members have aconventional type coded pattern of notches formed in their respectiveperipheries and are respectively rotatably mounted on six axiallyabutting spacer bushings `67, Figs. 2 and 3. Each of said radial arms 66is connected to and actuated by the armature of one of the codesolenoids 70a, 70b, 70C, 70d, 70e and 70j, Figs. 2 and 5. A washer 71 isdisposed between the uppermost permutation disc 60 and the flange 31 ofthe tubular support member 30. A stop control disc 73, which isrotatably mounted on its associated spacer bushing 74, is disposedimmediately beneath the lowermost permutation disc 65 and is providedwith a plurality of equally and circumferentially spaced ratchet typeteeth 75 whose respective clockwise sides, as seen in Fig. 2, defineinclined camming surfaces 76, Figs. 2 and 4. The number and the pitch ofteeth 75 correspond to that for the notches 32 formed in the flange 31of support member 30. The stop control disc 73 is also provided with aradially extending arm 77 which is connected to and operated by thearmature of a common or stop control solenoid 78.

A washer 79, Fig. 3, separates said spacer bushing 74 from a springanchoring ring 80 which is disposed immediately above a stop supportingblock 81. The block 81 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced andradially disposed slots 85 which are respectively axially aligned withthe said slots 32 formed in ange 31 of member 30. Each radial projectionformed by each successive pair of slots 85 is provided with a radiallyextending U- shaped groove 86, Figs. 2 and 3; these grooves collectivelydefining a circular seating trough for a stop mounting pivot ring 87. Aplurality of movable stops 90 are disposed in the respective slots 85and are pivotally mounted on said ring 87. Each stop 90 is provided witha slot 91 for ease in assembly with ring 87, and each of said stops isindividually biased radially inwardly by a spring 92 which is anchoredto said ring 80. Said stops are adapted to be selectively moved so thatthe respective upper ends thereof may be individually and selectivelypositioned in the circular path of movement of the single stop 35 onsaid rotatable printing head 33; the positioning of the respective stopsoccurring in timed relation to the operation of the other parts of thedevice as will be hereinafter explained. The seven spacer bushings 67,74 and the two washers 71 and 79 together with the anchor ring 80 andstop mounting block 81 are axially clamped against the ange 31 of themain support member 30 by means of the washer 94 and the nut 95 whichthreadedly engages the lower end of said member 30.

When solenoid 78 is energized the stop control disc 73 is rotatablyindexed from a normal counterclockwise position to a clockwise position,as seen in Fig. 2, whereby stops 90 are respectively swung radiallyoutwardly against the action of springs 92 by the camming action of thesaid tooth surfaces 76 as the latter move relative to the inner edges ofsaid stops. When the stop control disc 73 attains its clockwise positionall of the stops 90 will be held in their radially outer positions bythe outer ats on the control disc teeth 75, as illustrated in Figs. land 4. Here the upper ends of all of the stops 90 will be disposed inthe outer portions of the radial slots 32 of member 30 and theintermediate portion of said stops will be out of engagement with theperipheral notches in the permutation discs 60-65; thus making itpossible to rotatably index the latter by selectively energizing thecode solenoids 70a, 70b, etc. When the solenoid 78 is deenergzed and thestop control disc 73 is restored to its normal counterclockwiseposition, Fig. 2, the tooth camming surfaces 76 will permit springs 92to move stops 90 radially inwardly so as to engage and to sense theperipheral portions of permutation discs 60-65 and thereby allow one(90a, Fig. 3) and only one of said Cil stops to move to an extreme innerradial position wherein the upper end of this selected stop lies in thecircular path of travel of the single stop 35 depending from therotatably mounted printing head 33.

Rotatably secured to the shaft 16 is a circular cam 96, Figs. l and 7,which has a notch 97 of predetermined circumferential length formed inthe periphery thereof. Fixedly mounted for cooperation with cam 96 is aform C type switch 98 having a movable contact arm 100 which engages andis operated by the periphery of said cam 96. When movable arm 100 isriding on the circular portion 101 of the cam periphery said arm will bein operative engagement with the stationary switch contact 102. Whenmovable arm 100 falls into the notch 97 of the rotating cam 96 the armwill then be permitted to flex to its normal position wherein itoperatively engages the other stationary switch contact 103.

A clutch or detent solenoid 105, Figs. l and 2, is tixedly mounted sothat the armature 106 thereof is radially movable into and out of thecircular path of movement of a lug 107 laterally formed adjacent theperiphery of the gear 13. The detent or clutch solenoid in cooperationwith lug 107 will selectively permit and positively prevent theinitiation of each cyclic movement of shaft 16, gear train 12 and shaft11.

A printing hammer 108 is provided for cooperation with the type 34 onsaid printing head 33. Hammer 108 is power operated by any suitablemeans such as a solenoid 109. Operation of solenoid 109 is controlled bymeans of said form C type switch 98, Fig. 7. The solenoid and hammer aresuitably supported on a bracket 110 which is provided with a pair ofslots 111. Slidably engaging the walls of slots 111 are two studs 112which are suitably secured to the frame of the machine. The bracket 110is provided with an aperture 113 through which extends an elongated rod114 which is secured at its ends to the carriage of the instant printingdevice; said carriage being of any usual and well known type. A solenoid115 is adapted to shift bracket 110 from a lower position, wherein saidhammer cooperates with a set of lower case type, to an upper positionwherein hammer 108 cooperates with a set of upper case type on saidprinting head. Here the rod 114 will move through the bracket aperture113 during the letter spacing operations of the carriage, however whenthe solenoid 115 is energized both the hammer supporting bracket 110 andthe carriage will be vertically shifted so that the desired areas of therecord sheet 116 will be in print receiving position.

It will be understood that the record sheet 116 is supported by a set ofpaper feed rolls 117 operatively secured to the instant carriage whichis movably mounted and controlled so as to be letter spaced after eachprinting operation. Any suitable ribbon feed mechanism may' be used toposition and actuate the inked ribbon 118. Such adjuncts are well knownin the Teletype art and need not be particularized here. It will beapparent that several additional sets of type, similar to thatillustrated at 34, may be provided on the printing head 33 andadditional means employed to further shift the carriage and the hammersupporting bracket 110 to a corresponding degree. Thus the instantdevice may be readily adapted to selectively print a large number ofdifferent characters.

The circuit diagram for the control means of the instant apparatus isshown in Fig. 5. The six solenoids 70a, 70b, etc. for operating the stopcontrol permutation discs are respectively connected to the output lines119 of any suitable type of electrical signal encoder 120 which, forexample, may be similar to that shown and described in patent-application Serial No. 714,895 filed February 2, 1958, for Encoders Aplurality of switch controlled input lines, such as that illustrated at121 and 122, are connected between a power line 123 and the encoder 120.The switches 124 and 125 are respectively connected in lines V121, 122and are adapted to be suitably operated from the keyboard of the instantmachine in a manner fwell understood in the art. The solenoids 70a, 70b,etc. are each connected to ground through line 127, norm-ally open relaycontacts 130 'and 131 and lines 132, 133. The common output line 134 ofthe encoder 120 is connected to ground through normally closed relaycontacts 135, 136, line 137, solenoid 78 and lines 140, 133. The clutchor detent solenoid 105 is normally connected to a condenser 141 th-roughline 142, normally closed relay contacts 143, 144 and line 145. Whensolenoid 105 is operated the condenser 141 is adapted to be charged frompower line 123 through resistance 146, line 147, normally open relaycontacts 150, 144 and line 145. The solenoid 78 operates the movableswitch contacts 130 and 144 as well as operating the stop control disc73 as described in connection with Figs. 1-4.

A time delay circuit is provided for operating relay 151 so as to openthe contacts 135, 136 controlling the operation of solenoids 78 and 105.This time delay circuit includes -a -line 152 which is connected fromthe common encoder output line 134 to ground both through line 153,normally closed contacts. 154, 155, line 156, condenser 163, resistor157 and line 133; and through line 160, relay solenoid 161, line 162,resistor 157 and line 133. When an electrical signal is received fromthe common encoder output 134, the solenoid 161 will not be energizeduntil sufficient time has elapsed to charge condenser 163 in line 156.Subsequently, when the solenoid has been energized, condenser 163 willbe discharged to ground through normally open contacts 155, 164 andlines 165, 133.

The normal position of the cam 96 is such as to permit charging ofcondenser 166 in 1ine`167 from power line 123 through resistor 169, line170, normally closed contact arms 100, 102 and lines 167, 133. When cam96 is rotated from its normal counterclockwise position shown, throughone cyclic revolution, as indicated by arrow 173, Fig.` 7, the groovedportion 97 thereof will permit the movable arm 100 to contact the switcharm 103 during the latter portion of the cycle thereby energizingprinting hammer solenoid 109 through `lines 123, 170, 176 and 133.

The hammer shift solenoid 115 is connected between power line 123 andground through case shift switch 177 and lines 178, 179 and 133. Y

During the operation of the instant printing device, the record sheet isproperly positioned between the paper feed rolls. 117, Fig. 2, of thecarriage so that 'the cooperating hammer 108 and type 34 willprogressively print characters on the desired areasof said record sheet.Referring to both the circuit diagram o f Fig. 5 and the timing diagramof Fig. 6 when the switch 124, corresponding to a character to beprinted, is closed at time tn by the manual or power operation of theassociated key linkages of the instant printing device, current willflow through lines 134, 137 and 140 thereby energizing solenoid 78 attime t1 and closing contacts '130, 131 so that current =at time t2 flowsthrough encoder 120 and a coded combination of solenoids 70a, 70b, etc.to ground through lines 127 and 132. This laction of the solenoid 78will cause the stops 90 to move to their respective radially outer orinoperative positions, Fig. 1 thereby permitting the energized solenoids70a, 70b, etc. to rotatably index the associated code discs 6065. Theclosure of contacts 144 land 150 will permit charging of condenser 141through lines 147, 145. After the solenoid 78 has remained energizedIfor a predetermined period of time, t1 to t3, the condenser 163connected in parallel with the time delay relay 151 will have becomecharged thereby allowing relay solenoid 161 to draw current throughlines 152, 160, 162. Energization of relay solenoid 161 will firstconnect contacts 155, 164

thereby discharging condenser 163 to ground-through lines 156, 165 and133; and secondly, will break contacts 13-5, 136 thereby interruptingthe `circuit to solenoid 78 at time t3. Deenergiz'ation of solenoid 78will permit the stops to move radially inward and engage the notchedperipheries of the indexed discs 60-65 so that the selected stop 90a,Fig. 3, corresponding to the Ycharacter to be printed, is positioned inthe circularpath of movement of the type wheel stop 35.

When solenoid 78 is deenergized contacts 143, 144 will be restored totheir normally closed position shown in Fig. 5 and will connect thecharged condenser 141 to the solenoid thus momentarily energizing thelatter, from time t4 to t5, so -as to momentarily withdraw the armaturel106-thereof, Fig. 1, out of detenting engagement with the lug 107 ongear 13. The gear train 12 is thusvfreed at time t4 to drive the maindrive shaft 11 at a varying speed, as shown by curve 180, Fig. 6, whichin turn correspondingly yieldably rotates the printing head 33 until thestop 35 engages the selected and operatively positioned stop 90a, at atime such as t6 during the cyclic movement of shaft 11, therebypositioning the desired type 34a,` Fig. 3, opposite the printing hammer108. During this rotational indexing movement of the printing head 33the main drive shaft 11, being connected to the outputend of gear train12, will complete onefull revolution after having had a predeterminedangular acceleration Iand deceleration from and to a zero velocity atthe beginning t4 and the end t7 of said revolution, as .indicated bysaid curve 180. The zero velocity of shaft 11 between times t7 and tmresults from the above noted operative nature of the gear train; thedetent `armature 106, Fig. l,serving merely to prevent or permit arepetition of this rotational cyclic movement of drive shaft 11. Theshaft 16 Fig. 1, constituting the input to gear train 1,2, will, whenyieldably driven by shaft 18, rotate through one revolution at asubstantially constant angular speed as indicated by line 181, Fig. 6.Near the end of its cyclic revolution, and after the completion of thecyclic revolution of shaft 11 at time t7, the cam 96 secured to shaft 16will permit the movable arm 100 of switch 98, Fig. 5, to contact the xedswitch arm 103 thereby allowing the charged condenser 166 to dischargeto ground through lines 167 and 176. This yaction ywill momentarilyenergize solenoid 109 between times t8 and t9 so as to impart a printingstroke to thehammer 108. Near the end of the rotational movement ofshaft 16 the cam 96-will `again cause the movable switch arm 100 tocontact -arm 102V thereby recharging condenser through lines 170,167preparatory for `a subsequent cyclic operation of the apparatus. At thecompletion of the rotational movement -of shaft 16 at time tm the lug107 on gear 13, Fig. l, will detentingly engage the armature 106 of thesolenoid 105 which was previously momentarily energized to permitinitiation of the just completed cycle.

All o-f the various parts :and circuits will then have been.

restored to their respective normal positions illustrated in Figs. l, 2and 5 preparatory -for the next cycle of operation of the device.

It will be apparent that when it is` desired to vertically -shift therecord sheet and the hammer supporting bracket 110, Fig. 2, so as toselect from a diierent set of type on the printing wheel 33, the switch177, Fig. 5, will be initially closed by the actuation of the usual caseshift key thereby energizing the solenoid and 'appropriately shiftingthe record sheet relative to the printing head 33.

While there is in this `application specifically described one -forrnwhich the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration only andthat the inventionr intermittently rotating said shaft so that thelatter has a predetermined cyclic acceleration and deceleration, onerevolution detent control means for controlling the initiation andtermination of the successive single revolutions of said shaft rotatingmeans, and means Vfor yieldably coupling said shaft to said printinghead.

2. In a printing device; a rotatably mounted printing head having aplurality of type formed on the periphery thereof, a printing hammermovably mounted for cooperation with said type, a main drive shaft,means for yieldably coupling said printing head to said shaft, means forrotating said shaft Vthrough one revolution such that there is apredetermined angular acceleration and deceleration of said shaftduringsaid one revolution whereby said printing head yieldably followsthe motion of said shaft and is capable of partaking of a correspondingangular motion therewith, and a plurality of selectively positionablestops for variably limiting the `extent of said corresponding angularmotion of said head.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 2, additionally cornprising meansoperated after the completion of said i angular motion of said head yforactuating said hammer.

4. In a printing device, a printing head having a plurality of typeformed on the periphery thereof, a printing hammer movably mounted forcooperation with said type, cyclically operated means for yieldablydriving said printing head, a plurality of stops selectivelypositionable to arrest the movement of said head, means normallyoperable to prevent operation of said cyclically operated means, meansresponsive to the selective positionment of one of said stops fordisabling the last mentioned means thereby permitting the lactuation ofsaid cyclically operated means, and means operated lat the completion ofeach cyclic operation of said drive means for actuating said hammer.

5. In `a rotary type printing device; a rotatable cylindrical printinghead having `a plurality of type formed in the peripherj,l thereof, asingle stop secured to said head, a printing hammer movably mounted forcooperation with said type, means for actuating said hammer, a pluralityof stops selectively movable into and out of the path of movement ofsaid single stop, Vpermutation means operable to select which of saidmovable stops is moved into said path, means for selectively indering`said permutation means, means for moving 'the selected stop into andout of said path, a Vmain drive shaft, means for yieldably coupling saidshaft to said printing head, means for intermittently rotating saiddrive shaft through successive angles of fixed and equal magf5 nitudes,a first 'control means operable to control the initiation fandtermination Aof each intermittent driving movement `of said -driveshaft, Aand a second control means-responsive to the operation of saidstop moving means for operating said first control means.

6. Apparatus 'as defined by claim 5; `additionally comprising controlmeans responsive to the operation of the means vfor -intermittentlyrotating said drive shaft for operating said hammer actuating meansafter completion of each intermittent rotation of said drive shaft.

7. Apparatus as defined `by claim 6 additionally comprising means foryieldably driving said shaft rotating means.

'8. VApparatus as defined by claim 6; additionally comprising Ameans fordisabling said stop moving means after a predetermined period ofoperation of the latter.

9. In a Iwheel printing device; a rotatable printing head having aplurality of type formed on the periphery thereof, a stop secured tosaid head, a plurality of movable stops :adapted lto selectivelycooperate with the stop formed on :said head, means for moving saidstops, a plurality of permutation discs for respectively controlling theextent `o'f movement of said stops, a plurality of solenoidsrespectively actuating said discs, -a key controlled encoder 4forselectively electrically controlling the operation of said solenoids, -amain drive shaft, means for yieldably coupling said shaft tosaidprinting head, means for intermittently rotating said shaft, means forcontrolling the initiation and termination of the rotational movementsof said drive shaft, means responsive to said stop -moving means foroperating the last menltioned means, and means operated by said encoderfor disabling said stop moving means after a predetermined period ofoperation of the latter. l0. Apparatus Yas defined by claim 9 whereinsaid shaft rotating means includes a gear train which imparts apredetermined rotational Iacceleration and deceleration to said shaftduring each of the intermittent rotational movements of the latter.

11. Apparatus as defined by claim 9; additionally comprisingineans foryieldably driving said shaft rotating means.

12. Apparatus as defined `by claim 11; additionally comprising aprinting Yhammer movably mounted for cooperation with said type, meansfor actuating said hammer, Yand means responsive to the operation ofsaid shaft rotating means for operating said hammer actuating meansafter the completion of each intermittent rotation of said drive shaft.

References Cited in the tile of this patent 'UNITED STATES PATENTS902,329 Richards Oct. 2'7, 1908

